Spring grain sowing began two weeks early in Russia. Farmers are expected to plant 31.1 million hectares of spring grain, down 1.5 percent from year-ago. Pro Farmers First Thing Today reports however this adds to the 16.4 million hectares planted to winter grain during the dry fall. A Russian agriculture analysis firm estimates that between seven percent and nine percent of the winter grain crop is in poor condition, which is an improvement from 11 percent in November. The firm expects the 2016 grain crop to total between 100 and 105 million metric tons, versus its 100 million metric ton crop estimate in December. Wheat is expected to make up 59 to 62 million metric tons of the total, and grain exports are expected to range from 30 to 33 million metric tons in 2016-17, versus 30 million metric tons in 2015-16. But there are questions about Russia's competitiveness in the next marketing year as the ruble's fall against the dollar has raised farmers borrowing and input costs, possibly raising export prices.
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